Wheel holder, extension module and rear load carrier

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wheel holder, which is designed such that it can be pushed on an end section of a profile rail (13) of a rear load carrier (1). Also the invention relates to an extension module (34) for carrying a load having attachment means for releasable attachment to a rear load carrier (1) comprising at least one profile rail (13), wherein the extension module (34) comprises one extension profile rail (35) and two wheel holders (12) which are preferably pushed on the free ends of the extension profile rail (35).

1 . Wheel holder ( 12 ) for releasable attachment to a rear load carrier ( 1 ) for mounting to a vehicle comprising at least one profile rail ( 13 ), wherein the wheel holder ( 12 ) is designed such that it can be pushed on an end section of a profile rail ( 13 ) of a rear load carrier ( 1 ). 
     
     
         2 . Wheel holder ( 12 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the wheel holder ( 12 ) comprises a wheel holder body ( 20 ) defining a lengthwise direction (Y), which wheel holder body ( 20 ) has a receiving opening ( 21 ) open to a proximal end, wherein the receiving opening ( 21 ) has a cross-section complementary to the cross-section of a profile rail ( 13 ) of rear load carrier ( 1 ) so that the wheel holder body ( 20 ) can be pushed on the profile rail ( 13 ) and can surround the profile rail ( 13 ) of the rear load carrier ( 1 ) at least partially such that the wheel holder ( 12 ) can be fixed in a form-fit manner perpendicularly to the lengthwise direction (Y). 
     
     
         3 . Wheel holder ( 12 ) according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the receiving opening ( 21 ) extends through a proximal section of the wheel holder body ( 20 ) into the latter and is open distally. 
     
     
         4 . Wheel holder ( 12 ) according to  claim 2  or  3 , characterized in that the receiving opening ( 21 ) is open towards a bottom side of the wheel holder body ( 20 ). 
     
     
         5 . Wheel holder ( 12 ) according to any of  claims 2  to  4 , characterized in that the receiving opening ( 21 ) is limited upwards by a convexly shaped wall, which is designed to be brought in engagement with a corresponding concave upper contour of a profile rail ( 13 ) of a rear load carrier ( 1 ). 
     
     
         6 . Wheel holder ( 12 ) according to any of  claims 2  to  5 , characterized in that engagement projections ( 22 ) are formed at both lateral sides of the receiving opening ( 21 ), which engagement projections ( 22 ) engage inwards and upwards so that they can be brought into engagement into corresponding engagement grooves ( 18 ) formed in the profile rail ( 13 ) of a rear load carrier ( 1 ) open downwardly, and/or in that an abutment protrusion ( 23 ) facing downwardly is formed in the wheel holder body ( 20 ) such that the wheel holder body ( 20 ) can be pushed on a profile rail ( 13 ) until the end of the profile rail ( 13 ) comes into contact with the abutment protrusion ( 23 ), and/or in that the wheel holder body ( 20 ) comprises an end section, in which an upwardly open wheel receiving deepening ( 24 ) extending in the lengthwise direction (Y) for receiving the wheel of a bicycle is formed. 
     
     
         7 . Wheel holder ( 12 ) according to any of  claims 2  to  6 , characterized in that the wheel holder ( 12 ) comprises fastening means in order to fix a wheel of a bicycle, wherein, in particular, the fastening means comprise a belt ( 25 ) which is or can be attached to the wheel holder body ( 20 ) and can be laid around the wheel of a bicycle in order to fix the wheel of a bicycle. 
     
     
         8 . Wheel holder ( 12 ) according to any of  claims 2  to  7 , characterized in that locking means are provided by means of which the wheel holder body ( 20 ) can be locked relative to a profile rail ( 13 ), wherein, in particular, the locking means comprise a slot nut ( 26 ), which can be positioned in a T-shaped groove formed in a profile rail ( 13 ) of rear load carrier ( 1 ), and a corresponding clamping screw, which is screwed into the slot nut ( 26 ) and engages through a through-hole ( 27 ) formed in the wheel holder body ( 20 ) so that the wheel holder body ( 20 ) can be locked in a force-fit manner on the corresponding profile rail ( 13 ) of a rear load carrier ( 1 ). 
     
     
         9 . Wheel holder ( 12 ) according to any of  claims 2  to  8 , characterized in that safety means are provided in order to avoid an unintentional separation of the wheel holder ( 12 ) from the corresponding profile rail ( 13 ), wherein, in particular, the safety means comprise a safety pin ( 29 ), which is moveably held in the wheel holder body ( 20 ) between an upper position, in which the safety pin ( 29 ) can be out of contact with the corresponding profile rail ( 13 ), and a lower position, in which the safety pin ( 29 ) projects downwardly into the receiving opening ( 21 ) and can engage into a safety hole ( 19 ) formed in the profile rail ( 13 ), wherein, preferably, the safety pin ( 29 ) is biased towards the lower position, in particular by means of a corresponding spring, and/or wherein, preferably, a manual lever ( 32 ) is fixed to the safety pin ( 29 ) in order to move the safety pin ( 29 ) by hand. 
     
     
         10 . Extension module ( 34 ) for carrying a load, in particular for carrying an additional bicycle, having attachment means for releasable attachment to a rear load carrier ( 1 ) for mounting to a vehicle comprising at least one profile rail ( 13 ), wherein the extension module ( 34 ) comprises one extension profile rail ( 35 ) and two wheel holders ( 12 ) according to any of  claims 1  to  9 , which wheel holders ( 12 ) are preferably pushed on the free ends of the extension profile rail ( 35 ). 
     
     
         11 . Extension module ( 34 ) according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the extension module ( 34 ) comprises at least one, in particular two support elements ( 36 ), wherein one end of each support element ( 36 ) is connected to the extension profile rail ( 35 ) and the other end comprises attachment means in order to attach the extension module ( 34 ) releasably to a rear load carrier ( 1 ). 
     
     
         12 . Extension module ( 34 ) according to  claim 11 , characterized in that one through-opening ( 37 ) is provided in the free end section of each support element ( 36 ) and a clamping device ( 38 ) is assigned to each support element ( 36 ), so that the free end section of the support element ( 36 ) can be releasably braced against a profile rail ( 13 ) of the rear load carrier ( 1 ). 
     
     
         13 . Extension module ( 34 ) according to  claim 12 , characterized in that an adapter element ( 47 ) is assigned to each support element ( 36 ) of the extension module ( 34 ), wherein the adapter element ( 47 ) comprises a flat upper surface and a lower surface complementary to the contour of the profile rails ( 13 ) of the rear load carrier ( 1 ) so that the adapter element ( 47 ) can be arranged between the support element ( 36 ) and the profile rail ( 13 ) of a rear load carrier ( 1 ). 
     
     
         14 . Rear load carrier ( 1 ) for mounting to a vehicle, with
 a base body ( 2 ), which defines a longitudinal direction (L) between its front side and its rear side and a transverse direction (T),   a connecting device ( 9 ) for attachment to a vehicle-side trailer coupling provided at the front side of the base body ( 2 ), and   fixing means, which comprise at least two, in particular exactly three profile rails ( 13 ) which are held on the base body ( 2 ) and extend in the transverse direction (T), wherein on at least one end, in particular on both ends of at least one profile rail ( 13 ), preferably on both ends of each profile rail ( 13 ), a wheel holder ( 12 ) according to any of  claims 1  to  9  is pushed on.